All aboard the Tardis

Monday 14 April 2008 23:00 BST

Sentimental: Toby Hadoke delves into his past

Toby Hadoke is a respected compere and comedy promoter in Manchester with a shameful vice. For most of his life, this affable geek has been pathologically obsessed with telly’s favourite Timelord. Now he is out and proud, celebrating his passion in Moths Ate My Doctor Who Scarf.

Hadoke has seen every episode umpteen times — he even records and catalogues the trailers — yet as this engagingly nerdy confessional unfolds, the method in his madness emerges. His father left home when he was young and Dr Who has been a surrogate dad, forever there. Albeit on VHS when the Beeb cancelled the series.

Enjoyment requires basic Whovian knowledge but nothing too deep. Hadoke’s adolescent diary entries will resonate with anyone who has been a lovesick teenager and there are gently cutting digs at everyone from soccer nuts to Trekkies to the misguided fools who think Sylvester McCoy was the best Doctor.

The sentimental ending, with Hadoke nervously bonding with his own son, adds welcome heart and depth. Like a theatrical Tardis, this compact show is much bigger on the inside.